His Last Choice, My First Gambit Chapter 05

His Last Choice, My First Gambit Chapter 05

When I was a child, I used to intentionally fail tests and get into fights just to get their attention. It was the only way they would show up at school, the only way I could get the scrap of attention I so desperately craved. 1

Eventually, I stopped having any expectations.

On my birthdays, I’d buy myself a present. During parent-teacher conferences, I’d give the teacher my parents’ contact info and let them deal with it.

I grew up alone-until I met Preston.

My parents’ absence at school led to rumors that I was an orphan. One day, a group of older bullies cornered me, demanding my pocket money.

That was when Preston appeared.

He was fresh off the football field and effortlessly blocked the punch aimed at me, stepping between me and the bullies.

“What are you doing? A bunch of you ganging up on one girl? Have you no shame?”

The group scattered. I looked up at the boy who had shielded me. He was incredibly handsome, sweat dripping from his chin and glistening in the sun.

He turned to me. “Are you okay?”

In that instant, I was smitten, but I was too shy to do anything.

I just whispered, “I’m fine, thank you,” and fled, my heart pounding.

From then on, I started paying attention to Preston. I knew he had a close childhood friend, Lily, but they seemed to be just friends.

I didn’t understand then that some feelings, even true ones, are buried deep in the heart, never meant to be shown. All I knew was that my young heart, brimming with a 1 secret crush, was a tangled vine that had quietly taken over my entire world.

After that, even a chance encounter in the hallway would make my heart flutter and my cheeks burn.

However, I knew our marriage wasn’t something we could decide for ourselves. So when I found out my arranged marriage was to him, I was ecstatic.

Even my parents were thrilled with Preston; they contacted him more than they ever did me.

In my last life, when I told them I wanted a divorce, they flatly refused.

They looked at me with such disappointment. “Coralie, Preston is a brilliant young man who manages the company so well. A man like that is bound to have admirers. It’s not a big deal. Why do you have to make everything so difficult?”

I also knew that our marriage had tied the Vance and Sterling families together. A divorce wouldn’t be simple.

So I endured it, year after year, until I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to hold a knife to my own throat to finally force him to let me go.

But now, with this second chance, I wanted to live for myself.

I needed to think about my future, so I wasn’t ready to go home. But there was one thing I had to handle there.

I typed my number into Julian’s phone and called my own. After a single ring, I handed

it back to him.

“Save my number. Can I come find you in a few days?”

Julian glanced at the screen and saved it. “You’re welcome anytime.”

With that settled, I called for a ride home, not sparing Preston another glance.